Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life

by Shigehiro Oishi

A groundbreaking new understanding of happiness to help us build a fuller, more authentic life.

We all want a good life. But do the simple, predictable pleasures we call happiness lead to complacency and regret? Does a life of purpose invite narrow or misplaced loyalties?

Now, one of our foremost psychologists Shigehiro Oishi proposes a new way to live. Psychological richness is a concept that prioritizes curiosity, exploration and a variety of experiences. These can be as simple as taking a walk, or as complex as moving to a new country, causing a shift in perspective that helps us grow.

Weaving his own story with those of people like Steve Jobs, Oliver Sacks and Alison Gopnik, and original research from fields ranging from moral philosophy, literature, culture, neuroscience, personality and psychology, Oishi shows how to deepen and better our existence through psychological richness.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Personal Development, Philosophy, Audiobook, Personal Growth

Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2025

Reviews

[Angel Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one to re-read and refer back to for more inspiration!
I was able to finish this in 6 days at a leisurely pace and never felt like I was being lectured despite acquiring so much new information within this little time.
The dots are all connected for you, making this an easy-to-digest book. By "dots," I mean cultural references, research, and the author's anecdotes, which all flow into each other well. There is enough warmth and personal touch in this to not feel overwhelmed by the number of approaches to a better, fuller life that are presented throughout.
I would imagine a reader of any age could benefit from reading Life in Three Dimensions, as it is well-researched and non-judgemental. It doesn't feel as if you're being told what not to do, but instead, you are given several options for adding more to the path you're already on in life.

To get the full benefit of this book, I will refer to the notes for future books to read, movies to watch, and people to be familiar with.

Thank you, Doubleday Books, for the gifted copy.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The concepts of happiness and psychological richness were great to read about. I hadn’t thought about these concepts in this way before. By the end of the book I came to understand that a psychologically rich life will be different for everyone, but it’s all in the way we look at our lives and figuring out a rich and happy life doesn’t have to be perfect. One of the most fascinating things to think about was the concept of What is a good vacation? Everyone would think about this differently. This is a question that has come up in my life recently and helped me think about what this means for me.

Thank you to Shige Oishi, NetGalley and Double Day Books for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 4, 2025

[CatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shigehiro Oishi is a Japanese-born psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Chicago whose research focuses on happiness, meaning, and culture. His 2025 book Life in Three Dimensions takes findings from his own research with pairs them with the broader psychology literature to examine how taking less conventional paths and seeking out varied experiences can create psychological richness, which he feels is a key element of meaningful lives.

Oishi begins by contrasting his life path with those of his father, grandfather, and ancestors further back -- he took the metaphorical and less safe "road less traveled" when he left Japan for the US to pursue an academic career while they all stayed put in Japan. But did this path make his life happier or give it more meaning than theirs? (As a semi-aside, apparently this famous Robert Frost poem isn't necessarily glamorizing taking the road less traveled, but more subtly mocking people who assign undue significance to arbitrary decisions...which ties back to the conclusions of this book, in that it's less about which metaphorical/actual road you take, but the inner self-growth that you pursue regardless of your outward path.)

Oishis' book pairs research-backed insights with personal anecdotes, such as Oishi and his wife’s ill-fated attempt to save money by building their own deck, which (unsurprisingly) turned out to be a physically punishing and more expensive endeavor than hiring contractors, but ultimately one he valued for the memories and story it produced. That theme - embracing even imperfect or failed ventures for their experiential value - runs throughout.

Using the OCEAN model of personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism), Oishi's research found that people who score highly in openness and extraversion seem most primed for having meaningful and rich life experiences (I was reminded of Rick Steves' recent book On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer, as he seems to have both of those traits in spades). I consider myself high in openness but low in extraversion (and high in conscientiousness, low/medium in agreeableness, and medium in neuroticism), and anecdotally I can confirm that many of my most meaningful experiential memories tend to be ones where I leaned into both my naturally high openness and forced myself out of my comfort zone to be extraverted.

This was an interesting read -- nothing too groundbreaking if you've read other studies on happiness and meaningful lives, but still a nice addition to a series of books by academic researchers aimed at popular psychology audiences.

Further reading:
Triumphs of Experience: The Men of the Harvard Grant Study by George Vaillant and The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz (books that've come out of the long-running and still-ongoing Harvard Study of Adult Development)
The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50 by Jonathan Rauch
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur Brooks (as well as his other books)
(and at the risk of being clichéd, memoirs like The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger and Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl)

Book 251 for 2025
Book 2177 cumulatively

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life
by Shigehiro Oishi

A trailblazing, mind-expanding take on what it truly means to live well.

In Life in Three Dimensions, Shigehiro Oishi challenges the conventional wisdom that a good life must be either happy or meaningful. Instead, he introduces a bold third dimension—psychological richness—defined by curiosity, exploration, and varied experiences. And it’s a revelation.

Drawing on decades of psychological research, personal stories, and vivid examples from literature and pop culture, Oishi builds a compelling case for why embracing uncertainty, novelty, and even discomfort can lead to deeper fulfillment and fewer regrets. Rather than prescribing a single path, he invites readers to reflect on what kind of richness their own lives might be missing—and how to find it.

This book is intellectually rigorous but never dry, philosophical but always accessible. Oishi writes with warmth, clarity, and infectious enthusiasm, offering readers a new lens through which to view their past, present, and future.

If you've ever questioned the pursuit of constant happiness or felt boxed in by the pressure to live a life of singular purpose, Life in Three Dimensions will resonate deeply. It’s a liberating, perspective-shifting read—and one of the most insightful books I’ve picked up in years.

Highly recommended for fans of psychology, personal growth, and anyone ready to live a little more boldly.

[Sam Talkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to sit through this professors course.

How to live a physiologically rich life.

Don’t specialize be a generalist. Don’t be afraid of negative events. Stay uncomfortable. Be playful.

Enjoyed

[Tomato · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author blends psychological knowledge, philosophical discussion and his personal experience in the book and is genuine with the readers. The book contains interesting and relatable stories and it feels very easy to follow the flow and finish the book quickly. Recommend for everyone who wants to learn more about psychology in an engaging way!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5
I'm not quite sure how to capture my feelings about this book. I think the information that Oishi shares could have a profound impact on people and I appreciate his blend of philosophy, research, and personal experience. Despite all of this, I found this book a little boring. It may have been more engaging to read physically but I found my interest sliding away when I was trying to listen to it. There were a few times that Oishi made claims that I just don't agree with, particularly around introversion, which did not help my reading experience. I think my real positive takeaway from the book is the difference between happiness, psychological richness, and a meaningful life. I also appreciated that he touches on the fact that sad and frustrating situations are key to leading a psychologically rich life. What I feel like the book was missing were more concrete ways that the reader can pivot their life to find what would create psychological richness for them. He does a good job of making it clear that this will depend on the reader but I left the book feeling like I wasn't sure what to do if I was interested in introspection and figuring out what steps I could take to discover what psychologically rich means for me as an individual. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in psychology and delving into what a psychologically rich life entails. I would be interested to know if there is a more step-by-step book that could be paired with this one to provide the concrete steps that I felt this book was lacking. I do think it is an important and interesting book but I don't think that I am the right audience for it.

[Debbie Aiken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library and took so many photos of passages that resonated with me that I’m going to buy myself a copy!

The title describes the concept: that a “better” life has happiness, meaning, and is psychologically rich. The book focuses on the last part, explaining what psychological richness is (essentially, new experiences) and why it’s important.

He writes about why some people are driven to seek these experiences and why some aren’t. He shares a lot of research as well as anecdotal stories about famous people to illustrate his points. It’s not just about “fun” experiences either (like traveling) but how new, different, sometimes challenging experiences are those that enrich our lives.

I have always been a seeker of new experiences and really enjoyed reading about the science behind that inkling. I am looking forward to keeping this on my shelf and sharing with anyone feeling stuck, or lost, or wondering what they really want to do with their life.

[Jung]

What truly makes a life worth living? For years, psychologists believed the secret was balancing two major components: happiness and meaning. The common wisdom suggested that if you could feel good and find purpose, you would have everything you needed. However, recent research suggests there is a third, often overlooked element: psychological richness. This dimension moves beyond the comfort of happiness and the dedication of meaning. It involves the curiosity-driven exploration and unexpected experiences that add complexity, color, and depth to our lives. In "Life in Three Dimensions", Shigehiro Oishi invites readers to look beyond traditional ideas of fulfillment, suggesting that embracing psychological richness could lead to a life not just of joy or purpose, but of profound fullness.

To illustrate the different paths a life can take, Oishi shares the story of a father and son. The father, deeply rooted in a small mountain town in Japan, lived a life of stability, working the same land as his ancestors, marrying young, and raising a family in the place he was born. In contrast, his son left home at eighteen, studied in Tokyo and abroad, moved across cities in America, and built a life full of change, challenge, and novelty. Their different choices raise the question: who among them is happier? Before answering, Oishi asks readers to consider the broader factors that contribute to a fulfilling life.

For decades, the fields of psychology and cognitive science have explored the nature of happiness. They typically identify two main routes. The first is the hedonic approach, which focuses on pursuing pleasure and personal joy. This path emphasizes doing what brings immediate satisfaction—whether that’s finding a rewarding job, nurturing enjoyable relationships, or chasing dreams like travel or creative pursuits. The second is the eudaimonic approach, rooted in meaning. It prioritizes actions that serve a higher purpose, whether through professional dedication, community service, or commitment to family and values. People following this path may sacrifice personal pleasures for the sake of contributing to something larger than themselves.

Yet, focusing solely on either happiness or meaning has its pitfalls. The pursuit of happiness can become a trap when individuals pressure themselves to constantly feel good. Life naturally involves frustration, sadness, and setbacks. Ironically, chasing happiness too directly can backfire, leading to anxiety when negative emotions inevitably appear. In response, people often seek immediate mood fixes, sometimes through unhealthy coping strategies, rather than letting their innate emotional resilience work. Furthermore, Western cultures promote the idea that success and achievement bring happiness. But in reality, the emotional high of accomplishments fades quickly, often leaving people feeling empty or disconnected. True and lasting happiness, research finds, is rooted not in achievements but in strong, supportive relationships.

Similarly, the pursuit of meaning alone carries risks. Philosophers and cultural icons have often emphasized the nobility of living for a greater cause. However, measuring one's worth solely by grand contributions can create unrealistic expectations. Legendary figures like Steve Jobs and Gustave Flaubert left lasting legacies, but trying to match their monumental impact can set most people up for feelings of inadequacy. Meaning is deeply subjective, and often it’s the seemingly small, everyday roles—like the NASA janitor who saw himself as helping put a man on the moon—that bring profound satisfaction. The danger lies in overlooking the small joys and connections in favor of chasing extraordinary purpose, which may ultimately lead to burnout or isolation.

Reflecting on the lives of the father and son, Oishi shows that while both found elements of happiness and meaning, each emphasized one more than the other. The father’s life was primarily built around stability, family, and tradition—deeply meaningful pillars. The son’s life leaned toward seeking personal happiness through exploration, career, and varied relationships. But labeling one path as better misses an important point: there is more to life than just happiness or meaning. A growing body of research suggests that psychological richness is the third, vital dimension often overlooked.

Psychological richness refers to lives filled with interesting, novel, and perspective-changing experiences. These experiences might include studying abroad, learning a difficult new skill, or undergoing life-changing challenges like illness or recovery. People who naturally gravitate toward a psychologically rich life tend to have certain personality traits. The Big Five personality framework, developed in the 1930s, highlights five core traits: Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Openness to Experience. Among these, Openness and Extraversion are especially important for psychological richness. Those high in Openness are naturally curious and eager for new experiences, while those high in Extraversion are more inclined to seek out diverse social connections. Together, these traits create a cycle where exposure to new ideas and people leads to even greater openness and curiosity.

Still, even people who aren't naturally open or extroverted can cultivate psychological richness. The key is to make small changes that invite novelty into everyday life. Embracing spontaneity—such as taking an unplanned detour, saying yes to an unexpected invitation, or breaking from a rigid schedule—creates opportunities for unexpected discoveries. Engaging in playful activities without a specific goal, whether that's creative hobbies or unstructured leisure time, encourages mental flexibility. Lastly, taking small risks, like trying new foods or exploring unfamiliar places, adds texture to life without requiring major upheaval.

Interestingly, even adversity can contribute to psychological richness. Challenging events often bring fresh perspectives, deeper relationships, and new priorities. Stories from disaster survivors, like those of Hurricane Sandy or the Kobe earthquake, demonstrate that hardship, while painful, can ultimately enrich people's lives by strengthening bonds and shifting worldviews. However, whether adversity transforms or simply harms depends largely on the narratives people construct around their experiences. Those who are able to find meaning, growth, or renewed purpose in difficult times tend to emerge with a greater sense of psychological richness.

Ultimately, returning to the story of the father and son, Oishi reveals that he himself is the son in the story. His life's exploration of happiness, meaning, and psychological richness was inspired by comparing his own path to that of his father. Through his research, he realized that the better question isn’t which life is better or happier, but how we can blend happiness, meaning, and richness together.

In conclusion, "Life in Three Dimensions" offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to live well. It challenges the traditional two-dimensional model of happiness and meaning, arguing that psychological richness adds an essential third layer. A life filled with interesting, challenging, and perspective-expanding experiences—whether born from intention or hardship—can lead to deeper fulfillment. By embracing small adventures, cultivating curiosity, and weaving diverse experiences into our everyday lives, we can craft a life that isn’t merely good but truly vibrant and multidimensional. In doing so, we don’t have to choose between happiness, meaning, or richness; we can experience the beauty of living in all three dimensions at once.

[Frank Wang · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.5/10. Good and interesting idea. Probably could’ve been presented with greater brevity, but read like it was probably a pleasure for him to write; which makes it pleasant for me.

My summary is: the self can be understood as a dynamic collection of processes and relationships we maintain with people, identity, thoughts, and environment. When examining one’s relationship to things - such as relationship to work, friends, or identity - the nature of these relationship can be examined through the framework of what makes a good life: happiness, meaning, or psychological richness. Happiness equals steady contentment or achievement; meaning arises from purpose, contribution to a larger entity, and a sense of fulfillment; and psychological richness as variety, particularly the novel, surprising, and perspective changing, even when uncomfortable. Each dimension offers distinct relational ideals and outcomes, so the question becomes: in each relationship, what’s the dimensional ideal?

[Stroop · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely and thought-provoking exploration of what makes a good life. Is the quest for happiness and meaning enough to satisfy a person? Can living a life full of psychological richness—trying new experiences, challenging yourself, gaining perspective from others and your experiences—provide satisfaction (instead)?

The writing is clear, and the anecdotes are varied and interesting. I appreciated the focus on how getting out of our comfort zones and committing to learning and exploring new things can be incredibly fulfilling.

Recommended to anyone curious about self-improvement, learning, the “secret” of finding happiness, etc.

Thank you very much to Doubleday and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Srikanth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
The author Shigehiro Oishi has done a wonderful job of breaking down the enigma of 'a good life' into simple and easily understandable concepts with clear examples for each. The hypothesis laid out at the outset of this book is that a good life could be one that is (a) a happy life, (b) a meaningful life, (c) one with rich psychological experiences or a combination of all three of the above. Oishi has referenced a few of the all time classics like Herman Hesse's novels and 'A Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley to elicit the fact that an exploratory life is the one worth living, even at the cost of uncertainties and highs & lows in life. At certain portions, I felt this book was more like an academic paper with all the arbitrariness included, instead of it being a book purporting a clearly postulated concept. Also, the concepts got repeated quite a bit, but this may have been intentional. Overall, an interesting book that along with the insights also helps the reader appreciate other works of literature better.

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - this book was a perspective changer. Traditionally, we have been presented with two paths to a good life: a happy life or a meaningful life. But Professor Oishi proposes a third way: the psychologically rich life. In a very clear and concise way, he reveals some of the "traps" of our pursuit of happiness and search for meaning. With a good balance of scientific evidence, cultural references, personal stories, and literary anecdotes, I found myself reflecting deeply on my own way of life. It provides a nice guide with tips and tricks for becoming rich - psychologically rich!

[Alyssa Pontes · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was definitely a lot of valuable and interesting information and anecdotes about different ways to live a good life. I took lots of notes and got a decent amount of inspiration. However I will say the book just felt like a string of stories that never really made a point. It didn’t feel like there was a message or theme and the author contradicted himself a lot. He would say that none of the 3 ways of having a good life are better than others but then spend the majority of the book telling you to live a psychologically rich life. Maybe I’m being too harsh because I did like a lot of the information it just didn’t feel like a very well directed story.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author adds a fresh take on what makes a good life. Instead of just focusing on happiness or meaning, he highlights something called psychological richness—living with curiosity, trying new things, and learning through all kinds of experiences. It’s an inspiring reminder that a full life isn’t always easy, but it can yield rich stories. His top ten list of ways to live a psychologically rich life resonated with me.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't like self-help books, except of course when I do.

[Shari Gullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains what I knew in my gut, but didn't have the words to explain. I highly recommend it

[Artyom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is my in-depth review of this book. Be prepared, it's pretty long.

According to the book, a good life can be seen from 3 aspects (dimensions):

1. Happiness — a subjective feeling of joy, comfort and stability that rises and falls. Happiness is the frequency, rather than intensity of emotions. In the research (see chapter 6), author and his colleagues defined happiness as a life in which a person is comfortable, satisfied and joyful.
2. Meaning — a life, in which a person contributes to society and makes a difference. It is defined by 1) significance (a life that matters, makes a difference in the world), 2) purpose (clear sense of direction and a guiding principle) and 3) coherence (all of a person’s divergent experiences fit together under their own guiding principles).
3. Psychological richness — a life filled with the diverse, unusual, interesting experiences that change your perspective. Psychologically rich events involve novelty, intensity, complexity, and a change in perspective. Together, they form eventful life instead of straightforward one. According to the author, to live a psychological richness life one should experience not only variety of positive emotions, but also variety of negative emotions.

Psychological richness is the author’s own concept. To introduce it, he first discusses happiness trap and meaning trap. The happiness trap has two faces:
1) it is not possible to avoid unpleasant emotions but if we try to maximize happiness, we have to cope with these emotions and potentially rely on destructive ways of coping;
2) striving for happiness, actually, makes us less happy. There is a way to attain happiness by lower the expectations, but lowering the expectations, according to the author, discourages people from embracing necessary challenges and personal growth.

The meaning trap also has two faces.
1) For the majority of people who have not done anything very important, it is easy to feel life a failure.
2) The pursuit of meaningful life can promote a narrow viewpoint. Author cites a research: right-wing authoritarians reported higher levels of meaning in life than non-authoritarians. Ironically, to illustrate the “precariousness of meaning”, he gives an example of Lev Tolstoy’s existential crisis. I say “ironically” because this example actually supports the importance of meaning over other two dimensions, but I’ll discuss it later in more detail.

Author clearly states that psychologically rich life is a way to transcend the happiness and meaning traps. He says that people may find value in life by being “psychologically rich”, by searching for new experiences and new knowledge. Psychologically rich experiences only “add up”, in contrast of happiness, which has ups and downs, and also meaning, which can be lost. Author claims that the paradox of happiness and meaning is that complacency they foster can make for an incomplete life with major regrets, doubts and unanswered questions. According to the author, having no regrets is a defining characteristic of a psychologically rich life. He associates a life of meaning and happiness but without much psychological richness as a life of stability. At the same time, the author doesn’t argue that “psychologically rich life is the best life, or that it’s always better than a happy life or a meaningful life”. He says: “you can still lead a good life if you fill it with diverse, interesting, and perspective-changing experiences”.

According to the author, psychologically rich life goes beyond limits of happiness and meaning traps. Author first gives examples of fictional characters like Goldmund, Stephen Dedalus, Odyssey, who embraced uncertainty and life of exploration. Then, he gives examples of A. Gopnik and Steve Jobs, then examples of ordinary people. Though not stated explicitly in the text, I see how exactly psychologically rich life can transcend happiness and meaning traps. That’s how I see it.

The first side of happiness trap (avoiding unpleasant feelings may lead to unhealthy coping) can be “solved” by embracing any emotions, including bad ones. The second side of happiness trap (locking yourself from challenges and personal growth) may be avoided by exploring something new and different.

As for the meaning trap, the second side of it (narrow viewpoint) can be resolved similarly to the second side of happiness trap. The first side (feeling failure if you did not do something important) can also be resolved because of the focus on new knowledge and diversity of emotions. In other words, even if it seems that your life did not make a big difference in the world, at least, you experienced many things and got closer to the “knowledge of life” (I use this term in a kind of deterministic way).

Although the author tells extensively about “psychological richness”, he says almost nothing about the limitations or “psychological richness traps”. Perhaps, the only place where one can find such a discussion is in the section “Can psychological richness be too much”? Even there, author throws only two examples and stops on them. The examples are: 1) people struggled in the childhood, when they had to move frequently, and it was difficult for them to find relationships in their adulthood; 2) 24-hour long concert may be dangerous for health. That’s it.

Seems like psychological richness dimension almost doesn’t have any limitations.

Or does it?

Let’s imagine two people — Frank and Tom. Both of them are almost equally happy and both see their life meaningful, but the life of Frank is more psychologically rich than Tom’s life. Seems like Frank had a better life than Tom.

But here is the thing. Frank is a mobster capo and Tom is a carpenter. Frank enjoys wealth, status, strong family ties, and loyalty among close associates. He lives well, eats well, and has bursts of excitement that bring him pleasure. Tom has a stable job, a loving family, and enjoys working with his hands. His daily routine brings him peace and satisfaction. Frank believes in protecting his family, values loyalty and honor within his code, and feels his life has purpose—even if it’s outside conventional morality. Tom takes pride in his work, sees it as contributing to his community, and feels a deep sense of purpose in building things that last. However, Frank’s life is far more psychologically rich, it is filled with drama, risk and constantly changing situations. Carpenter’s life is more predictable, stable and grounded in routine. So, between these options, which one you would choose?

I suspect that the life of Frank would be unlikely chosen, as we all know from mobster movies like “Godfather” or “Goodfellas” that the life of a mobster often doesn’t last long and is extremely risky. Frank’s life, while richer in narrative and complexity, feels unsustainable and morally compromising.

Here is another point. When striving for psychological richness people may fall into perversity, which can be dangerous for not only mental and physical health, but also for other people. Marquis de Sade sought intense, complex, and taboo experiences that pushed every boundary of morality, legality, and human dignity. His life and writings were full of extreme novelty (sexual, philosophical, and political experimentation), cognitive complexity (challenging norms, exploring power, suffering, and pleasure), perspective-shifting ideas (redefining freedom, transgression, and the body).

De Sade described scenes where he inflicted extreme physical and psychological torture on his victims, combining sexual acts with cruelty and humiliation. One infamous scene in his writings involves imprisoning people, denying them basic needs, and forcing them into degrading, violent acts—all framed as an assertion of absolute freedom without regard for consent or humanity. From a strict psychological richness lens, de Sade’s life might seem “rich” in experiences and radical ideas. But clearly, this kind of richness crosses into pathology and social harm.

Psychedelics are often described as profoundly perspective-changing, which aligns directly with the core of psychological richness. Users often experience radical shifts in how they see themselves, others, and the universe. Emotions can range from bliss to existential dread—all of which deepen emotional complexity. People report loss of ego boundaries, revisiting trauma, or reevaluating meaning and morality. But again, if we take life of a carpenter Tom and compare it with an avid LSD user Max, who, do you think, had a better life? Which one would you choose?

Personally? I would still choose Tom’s life. Max might have intense experiences, but without anchoring, he risks becoming disconnected from reality, misinterpreting insight, as well as losing relationships and structure. Meanwhile, Tom’s life may lack spectacle, but it offers coherence, social value, and enduring fulfillment.

Another question: is variety of positive experiences with little negative experiences is worse than the variety of negative and positive experiences both? According to the author, the more psychologically rich life is the better it is. For me, not really, though in some cases I agree with the author. For instance, I can agree that a refugee from North Korea, who settled in South Korea may have had a better life with greater depth, transformation, and narrative complexity than the life of a person who just travels, hangouts with her friends and changes hobbies regularly. On the other hand, some negative experiences shouldn’t be experienced at all. For instance, experiencing a war can be psychologically rich, as it involves novelty, very intensive and complex, as well as perspective-changing. But for a person, who dies in it (considering that previously one had a eventful life, in a good way), or suffers from extreme pain, it doesn’t give anything, and it would be a HUGE insult to say that his life was better than those who had not experienced such tragedy.

Author claims that psychologically rich life is a way to live a life without regrets. Both F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway are quintessential examples of lives that were high in psychological richness. But do you know what was their end? Fitzgerald died at 44 from a heart attack brought on by years of heavy drinking. Near the end, he was financially broke, estranged from his wife Zelda, and felt like a failure. Hemingway suffered severe depression, paranoia, and cognitive decline. Eventually, he committed suicide at age 61 with a shotgun. Oh, and there is Jack London, who worked as an oyster pirate, sailor, gold prospector in the Yukon, and war correspondent. He experienced extreme physical and environmental challenges. He lived purely adventurous life, but last years he suffered from depression and seems like the cause of his death was a suicide. Also, read Martin Eden, this is a great example of how psychologically rich life without a sense of meaning may fall apart.

As I touched the meaning, let’s dive deeper here. When talking about “meaning trap”, author gives an example of Lev Tolstoy, who had an existential crisis in his 50s. I said that this example, actually, works against the author’s argument. Here is how. Before existential crisis Tolstoy lived not only happy, but also highly psychologically rich life. Tolstoy in his youth was gambling, dueling, womanizing, hunting, and reveling in the pleasures of aristocratic life. His military service in the Caucasus and Crimea exposed him to war’s brutality (see Sevastopol Sketches), deepening his understanding of fear, courage, and human nature. His letters and diaries reveal a man of volcanic emotions, swinging between euphoria and despair, guilt and lust. He had many diverse social interactions, ranging from interacting with the first Russia intellectuals (like Turgenev) and aristocracy to peasants and working people. He travelled to many countries. He read great amount of literature, books, poetry, also very diverse and perspective-changing. Damn, before crisis he wrote War and Peace. Just by reading the novel and knowing almost nothing about the author, except his big name, it is easy to guess how psychologically rich his life was. Yet, he experienced an existential crisis. How it is possible? Interestingly enough, because of lack of meaning. That’s what Tolstoy writes in his “A Confession”. He did not lost his meaning. He just couldn’t find one. Quote: "If God does not exist, since death is inevitable, what is the meaning of life?". That made him feel depressed, and that’s why he even seriously thought about suicide.

So, the “meaning trap”. I mentioned that the first side of it is feeling bad when you did not do anything important. Author defines meaning correctly, but then falls into utilitarianism – as each person has to make as big impact as possible, while in reality, the expectations could be lower without compromising self-growth and the person may have even higher sense of meaning than overachievers (and, trust me, it happens often enough). But, to be fair, author himself gives an example of janitor in NASA, who says that helps to send people to the space, or something like that. So, the meaning is subjective, not objective, and there is no trap in overachieving. But there is another “trap”, when a person feels bad and tension when one cannot get closer and satisfy his goals. By the way, author partially touches this topic when discussing productivity trap. This tension somehow makes people psychologically richer, as now they have to experience some emotions and, probably, search new ways to achieve something, rethink their meaning, or lower the expectations. But, honestly, I wouldn’t call it as “trap”, because that’s what happens very often. This tension is a defining characteristic of life, not a “meaning trap”. People experience this tension all the time, simply because wish≠reality.

As for the second “meaning trap” (allegedly, search for meaning promotes a narrow view point), it is simply wrong. A narrow viewpoint is a characteristic of a person, the one who searches, and the process of searching for meaning actually widens one’s worldview and gives you new knowledge. Well, because you’re SEARCHING. The problem may be that a person may stop on one, potentially not a really great idea (like entering KKK) and that’s it. Previously, I said that searching for psychological richness may help close this “trap”, but the effect is restricted. It depends on which kind of richness you’re seeking. To watch the arguments of other views is OK, but people often don’t do that. They may have a very psychological rich life (like mobster life), yet it doesn’t always give them the best moral options possible.

Now, happiness trap. You can embrace negative emotions, but some negative emotions you just can’t handle, and there is no necessity in doing that. You’ll still need to cope with them somehow (like PTSD), and I don’t think they can be excused for being diverse just for the sake of diversity. A search for psychological richness may not help to cure the second side of “happiness trap” (need for personal growth), it can make it even worse (perverse behaviour, psychedelics).

All in all, I think that psychological richness cannot transcend the happiness and meaning “traps” fully, though in some cases it can. What is more, I think that psychological richness is the least important dimension.

First of all, as I said just before, it doesn’t resolve happiness and meaning traps completely (and meaning traps are not actually traps). Second, psychological richness has its own traps. Third, I definitely think that happy or meaningful life on their own are better than just psychologically rich life.

So far my priorities of dimensions are:
1. Meaning
2. Happiness
3. Psychological richness

Meaning here is the most important because it directly influences happiness, more than psychological richness. Happiness is what we’re all striving for, but striving for it too much can harm, because it is a product of striving for meaning.

Overall, happy and meaningful life I would consider great, no matter how psychologically rich it is (even if it is close to zero). But happy and interesting (in a good way) life definitely better than just happy. Also, probably, I would add interesting and positive unique experiences to the feature of happiness rather than considering it just as “life satisfaction”. And, if so happens, I, probably, wouldn’t see a big value in a separate dimension of psychological richness.

[CreativelyRed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this interesting and engaging to read. A recommendation from Adam Grant's thinker series that was enjoyable.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read it because it was on the JP Morgan book list of what wealthy people are reading this summer. Can’t believe that wealthy people would waste their time reading this book.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is worth praising this book for its clarity, which makes its themes accessible and easy to understand. I can imagine this would be a great introduction to some of these concepts for a recent graduate, for example, or someone entering a new phase in their life. But for a book called Life in Three Dimensions, this was often a two-dimensional book. I would've liked more robust analysis or research. Some of his ideas were linked to studies and examples I was skeptical of. Undergraduate questionnaires or case studies of famous people point to interesting conclusions, but I wouldn't say they are always airtight.

One funny passage that made me raise my eyebrows was in chapter 13, when the author discusses his “friendly but very anxious” wife. He discovers she can paint, and when she does, she uses pastel colors, which leads him to conclude: “Her paintings were so happy. She went about making them so decisively. Deep down, she must be a very happy person.” This seems a bizarrely flat interpretation of both art and psychology.

That aside, shifting focus from “happiness” to “psychologically rich” as a life goal is a useful practice.

Notes

Some people may live a life of self sacrifice and virtue but forgo opportunities that ultimately lead to more regrets and "what ifs." Self sacrifice is admirable, to be sure, but prioritizing it can lead people to lose sight of their own desires and ideals until their lives no longer feel authentic. French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre would have called this a life of "bad faith." (PG. 5)

In the essay "Human, All Too Human" in his work Ecce Homo, Frederick Nietzsche wrote about German specialization as follows: "I have discovered that a large number of young men experience the same distress: one anti natural step virtually compels the second. In Germany, the Reich – To speak unambiguously – All too many our condemned to choose vocations too early, and then to waste away under a burden they can no longer shake off. These people require Wagner as an opium: they forget themselves, they are rid of themselves for a moment –what am I saying? For five or six hours!" (PG. 73)

To foster psychological richness in our lives, we must lean into the unfamiliar, the risky, and the challenging… Being a generalist requires broader perspectives than being a specialist. Familiarity generates reliable happiness, but it doesn't generate much richness. In contrast, while a challenging project can produce a lot of negative emotions in the short run, you can also add psychological richness in the long run. (PG. 91)

In his Critique of Judgment, Immanuel Kant distinguished beautiful arts from pleasant arts. He described pleasant arts as"Those that are directed merely to enjoyment. Of this class are all those charming arts that can gratify a company at a table… to this class belong all games which bring with them no further interest than that of making the time passed by in perceptively." In contrast, "Beautiful art is a mode of representation which is purposive for itself, and which, although devoid of definite purpose, yet further the culture of the mental powers in reference to social communication." Here, Kant defines an aesthetic experience as something greater than the enjoyment of me sensation but rather the enjoyment of what he calls "reflective judgment," which involves some gap between sensation and reality and a new mental representation and understanding of an object. (PG. 97)

At the end of Time Regained, the final volume of In Search of Lost Time, Proust talks about the role of art more generally: "through art alone we are able to emerge from ourselves, to know what another person sees of a universe which is not the same as our own end of which, without art, the landscapes would remain as unknown to us as those that may exist on the moon. Thanks to art, instead of seeing one world only, our own, we see that world multiply itself and we have at our disposal as many worlds as there are original artists, worlds more different one from the other than those which revolved in infinite space, worlds witch, centuries after the extinction of the fire from which their light first emanated, whether it is called Rembrandt or Vermeer, send us still each one its special radiance." (PG. 106)

“It is the disruptive power of disaster that matters here, the ability of disasters to top old orders and open new possibilities… The very depth of emotion, the connecting to the core of one's being the calling into play one's strongest feelings and abilities, can be rich, even on deathbeds, and wars and emergencies.

"What is often assumed to be the circumstances of happiness sometimes is only insulation from the depths, or so the plagues of on we and angst among the comfortable suggest." — Rebecca Solnit (PG. 136-137)

William James commented on this painting, saying that "the world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck." Psychological richness and misfortune can coexist, so long as the misfortune is kept in check. (PG. 141)

The longer life goes on, the fewer are those around to challenge our account, to remind us that our life is not our life, merely the story we have told about our life. Told to others, but–mainly–to ourselves. -Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending (PG. 142)

James Joyce: Per aspera ad astra—through hardship to the stars. (PG. 181)

[Maya Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely loved this book (written by my PI!!!). am feeling very inspired to live a psychologically rich life

[Elin Gustafsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool life finding

[Ali E9 · Rating 4 out of 5]

When my brother travels, he prefers to go to South America, stay at an all-inclusive hotel, and drink alcohol. My former boss, on the other hand, once went there on a mission trip. And the last time I was in Mexico, even though I am not gay, I traveled to the epicenter of gay culture to experience the unknown. These three approaches to travel to South America illustrate three different views of the “good life” described by Shigehiro Oishi in his book.

In the first case, my brother seeks happiness. In the second, my boss searches for meaning. And in my case, it was about venturing into the unknown. Oishi argues that the third approach is the most overlooked yet vital. He calls it a psychologically rich life—a life that is colorful, multilayered, and filled with experiences that broaden or even transform our perspective.

The book is an invitation to playfulness, openness, and freedom—to break away from exhausting daily routines, to step outside the culture of productivity and the division of labor. It is about freeing ourselves from the dull obligations that provide financial security but rarely bring inner transformation. We may spend decades in the same job, with the same people, but on our deathbeds, we might think only of the opportunities we never took. We walk cautiously, cane in hand, in the name of safety, but in doing so, we trade away our freedom. It is the life of the safe employee versus the dangerous lover of the unknown.

The book suggests that even watching documentaries or reading novels can add layers of richness to life. Personally, I disagree with this to some extent. For me, living is an active practice. Books and films may inspire, but they can also become excuses for avoiding the true essence of psychological richness: taking risks. Still, I acknowledge that independent films, art, and good literature can prepare us to reopen ourselves to new experiences.

One of the most important lessons of this book, beyond defining psychological richness, is showing how most people settle down with little exploration. They anchor themselves in a career, a relationship, or a place without ever truly experiencing more of life’s possibilities. This resonated with me deeply. I chose my profession at 18, and 12 years later, I’m still stuck in it—hoping I would eventually love it, but instead finding myself in a state of severe burnout. Those 12 years feel like a deception, as if I had tied myself to a cart like a horse, dragging the weight of a “better future” while keeping myself going with self-help books and meditation. Yet the real whips of life have still cut into my soul.

The book is also valuable because it references other works—novels, films, and documentaries—that I now plan to explore.

Overall, this book introduces a new lens on life. Beyond a life of meaning, usually tied to religion or ideology, and beyond a life of comfort and routine, there exists this third way: a life of novel experiences, which can be just as fulfilling as the other two models. It is not a self-help book, but more a philosophical introduction to what a psychologically rich life is, who has lived it, and why it matters.

When I reflect on it, I realize that many people—successful or not—have lived such lives. A homeless person may live a far richer and more complex life than a bank clerk, but does that mean it is a better life? That’s the question the book leaves us to wrestle with.

[Pintu Saw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life is a thought-provoking and inspiring exploration of how we can enrich our lives through curiosity, exploration, and meaningful experiences. Oishi delves into the ways in which expanding our horizons and engaging with the world around us can lead to greater fulfillment and happiness.

One of the standout themes of the book is the importance of curiosity. Oishi argues that staying curious and open-minded allows us to grow both personally and intellectually. The book highlights how curiosity encourages us to question, learn, and discover new ideas and perspectives, which can lead to deeper satisfaction in life.

The concept of exploration is also explored deeply. Oishi emphasizes that stepping outside of our comfort zones and engaging with the unknown can be one of the most powerful ways to enrich our lives. Whether it's through travel, trying new activities, or embracing new challenges, the act of exploring the world around us helps to build resilience, creativity, and a stronger sense of self.

The book is filled with fascinating insights backed by research, but Oishi’s writing remains accessible and relatable. Each chapter offers concrete examples and practical advice for cultivating a life filled with curiosity and exploration. Whether you’re looking to make small changes or undertake larger life shifts, Oishi provides a thoughtful roadmap for creating a more meaningful existence.

What I appreciated most about Life in Three Dimensions is its reminder that a fuller life isn’t just about accumulating achievements or possessions—it’s about actively engaging with the world, staying curious, and seeking experiences that push us to grow. Oishi’s writing is an invitation to reflect on how we can all make the most of the limited time we have.

Overall, this book is a compelling read for anyone seeking to live a more intentional and adventurous life. It encourages us to move beyond the routine and embrace the richness that comes from a life of exploration and curiosity. Highly recommended for readers looking to find more depth, joy, and meaning in their everyday experiences.

[Matthew Ashby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am fortunate to live in a time when social scientists are taking the study of happiness seriously, and moreover their work has advanced to the point where it is appearing in the popular press. This book *seems to be* a significant contribution to the evolving discussion, among the experts, as to what constitutes a happy, meaningful, and psychologically rich life.

The subtitle is clearly deliberately written to convey the main message of the book in a single line.

It builds on recent work by addressing the happiness trap and the meaning trap. The second was new to me, at least as a coherent concept. The third dimension of the title, then, might be described as a growth- or richness-oriented mindset in which one seeks out rich experiences rather than being focused on achieving happiness or meaning per se in life.

A salient aspect of the research supporting this third dimension (psychological richness) is that it originated from numerically coding hundreds-thousands of obituaries for how the decedents viewed their lives, and whether they regretted their major life choices. Those focused on psychological richness had the fewest regrets *even though* they were by no means the happiest.

An idea resurfaced here that I've encountered before: people sometimes regret (presumably poor) decisions made in the short term, but in the long term, for example when looking back at their lives, our deepest regrets come from things we choose not to do. This tracks well with my own experience.

This could be taken as an advice book, i.e., advice for how to live. In a nutshell the advice might be: don't be afraid. Take risks and seek out new life experiences. Don't worry too much about being happy or finding meaning in life, those things can come to you along the way, and possibly in great measure if you focus instead on growth and learning and are willing to tolerate some pain and uncertainty on your path.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

For years, people have argued that to maximize their quality of life, people should strive for both happiness and meaning in their lives. In his book LIFE IN THREE DIMENSIONS, Dr. Oishi introduces a third component to formula — psychological richness. In other words, in addition to seeking happiness and meaning, we should see out experiences that take us out of our comfort zone, challenge us, teach us, or change our outlook on life. He then goes on to explain the different paths we can take to achieve this richness, be it a trip or a book we wouldn't normally read.

I enjoyed the book largely because I agree with Dr. Oishi's theory. I believe people should never stop learning or growing. I've seen within in my own family that staying in your comfort zone and being afraid to take risks often leads to a lifetime of regret.

What those risks are, however, is a matter of opinion. This is where Dr. Oishi's book stumbled for me. His definition of psychologically enriching experiences felt very narrow and based on his personal world view. For example, at one point he compares a life of happiness vs a psychologically rich life as the difference between a Caribbean cruise and a backpacking trip, his logic being that on a cruise all your needs are met and therefore you are neither challenged nor changed by the experience. I would disagree. Someone who has never stepped out of their hometown or state might be very much changed by the cruising experience.

All in all, the book while interesting and well-written, failed to introduce too much new information to me. Dr. Oishi's theory is spot-on, but I wonder if this book would have been better as a long article.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced read in exchange for this honest review.

[Răzvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

citEști Business „Life in Three Dimensions”, Shigehiro Oishi: Împlinirea sună a tine
„Un mod în care ne putem gândi în legătură cu un eveniment nefericit ține de faptul că s-ar putea să ne îmbogățească viețile fără să aibă această intenție, chiar și atunci când experiența care ne îmbogățește este departe de a fi una fericită” p.141 Shigehiro Oishi „Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life”, Doubleday, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UNI6...
Și fericirea te întâmpină cu studiile ei. Ca domeniu de investigație, bunăstarea are punctele ei de forță dar și perspective care trezesc dispute aprinse. În „Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life”, Shigehiro Oishi se bazează pe bogăția psihologică drept principiu de bază. Psihologul japonez este fiul unui om care a mizat pe stabilitate și confort ca repere în viață. Oishi îți propune curiozitatea, explorarea și experiențele variate ca instrumente fundamentale în dezvoltarea ta.
„Unul din motivele pentru care cei ce caută senzații s-ar putea să nu ducă o viață mai bogată din punct de vedere psihologic decât cei care nu caută senzațiile- în ciuda faptului că toți cei care caută senzații caută experiențe mai diverse, mai noi decât cei care nu caută senzații- ține de faptul că ei nu reflectează suficient cu privire la experiențele pe care le au.” p.151 Shigehiro Oishi „Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life”, Doubleday, 2025

[Collin Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in three dimensions
Argues or believes that contrary to public opinion, where generally it is believed that the degree to which someone leads a good life is evaluated based on the meaningfulness and happiness found during life, “psychological richness” is a third dimension that must be considered.

His arguments are convincing to the extent that I agree that psychological richness does contribute to a “good” life, but his argument that this is a third dimension, independent of happiness and meaning, feels like a stretch, like in order to feel like he contributed to the positive psychological literature in a meaningful way (and to be able to publish a book on it!) he had to invent a third dimension to evaluate a good life on. It’s way more compelling from a marketing perspective if you argue you’ve discovered the third key to a good life as opposed to adding to the long list of ways humans can find meaning/purpose, and happiness in life. I mean fuck, I bought the book didn’t I?

My opinion is that this third dimension he considers psychological richness, I would really consider it a combination of the two. To draw an analogy from linear algebra, “psychological richness” feels like it’s a linear combination of happiness and meaning - we might have 3 vectors here, but we span R2, not R3.

Regardless, this is probably just semantics. Still plenty of useful tidbits of knowledge and wisdom , and overall enjoyable read.

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love the concept behind this book. The idea of living a psychologically rich life is fascinating, and you can clearly tell the author is passionate about the topic. It’s well researched and filled with plenty of thought provoking insights. I definitely came away with a few ideas that made me pause and reflect and as a non fiction reader who likes to take notes, there was a lot here to engage with.

That said, I found the book hard to get through at times. It leans heavily on multiple stories and case studies, which began to feel repetitive and somewhat long winded. The pacing dragged for me and it took me a while to finish, partly because I needed breaks between sections to absorb everything.

The book explores three different ways to live a good life which are through happiness, meaning or psychological richness. I appreciated that the author presents them as equally valid, but it did feel like the majority of the book was trying to advocate psychological richness as the superior path. That made the overall message feel slightly contradictory and uneven.

Still, there are definitely good ideas in here, and if you're someone interested in life philosophy or self reflection, this book offers a refreshing take. I just wish it had been more concise and clearer in its direction.